Metro News & Reviews

Transportation headlines, Monday, Feb. 27

Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.

Passengers complain at the impending loss of the 305 line, which zigzags across town between Willowbrook and Westwood. Metro plans to cut the line after the Expo Line opens, in part because of the new east-west rail service, low ridership and budget issues. Other lines have been beefed up and there are other ways to get from Willowbrook to Westwood in about the same time as the 305 — but most require one or more transfers. The New York Times looked at the prospective cut last July.

A HOT lane in the Seattle area. Photo by Washington State DOT.

A decent overview of the trend toward converting carpool lanes to high occupancy toll lanes in which most carpoolers still travel for free but single motorists can buy their way into the lanes by paying a toll via electronic transponder. The story focuses on Atlanta’s newest lanes, which have been controversial. Evidence points to the carpool lanes still moving faster than the general lanes but many vocal critics say the entire freeway is slower than before. Metro is set to launch its ExpressLanes project on the 110 freeway’s carpool lanes in the fall.

Plans to build 325 residential units and 495,000 square feet of creative space at Stewart and Olympic in Santa Monica is drawing criticism from as far as Brentwood, with one restauranteur saying it will impact his business there. The development will be next to a station on Expo Line phase 2.

Nice look at the two-mile bike lane along the Arroyo Seco from York Boulevard to Montecito Heights. It’s really a shame there isn’t a bike path all the way from JPL to Cypress Park, where the Arroyo Seco flows into the L.A. River. If there’s a will, there’s a way, people.

The HOT lane in Seattle (on SR167) only requires Single Occupant Vehicles wishing to buy in to have and use a transponder. HOV 2+ and up can use the lane with no need for an account, occupancy is verified by the Highway Patrol.